Even today, the former Reichsparteitagsgelände (Nazi Party Rally Grounds) in the south of the city is still home to gigantic ruins representing the Nazi regime’s deluded notion of grandeur. The 11 km² complex was where the Nazi Party orchestrated its propaganda campaign. The documentation centre is located in the north wing of the Kongresshalle, which was designed by the Nazis to hold 50 000 people and was never completed. The permanent “Faszination und Gewalt” (“Fascination and Terror”) exhibition housed in the 1300 m² venue, chronicles the causes, relationships and consequences of the Nazi dictatorship.

Jim Thompson was an American entrepreneur who helped revive Thailand’s silk industry in the 1950s and 60s. His home, a cluster of traditional teak houses moved from around the country and reassembled here, is now a museum filled with his collection of Asian art, antiques, and textiles. The guided tour is the only way to see inside, and it’s worth it for the stories about Thompson’s life and mysterious disappearance in 1967, which still hasn’t been solved. The garden café and small silk shop round out your visit.

Surrender to the charms of an island that exhales energy and inspires adventure. Held in October with the goal of promoting nature tourism, the festival offers activities for all ages, which allow direct contact with the island's rich natural heritage.

About 35 km southeast of Bangkok, the Ancient City is an open-air museum where Thailand’s most important historical sites have been recreated at a smaller scale. Spread over 200 acres, you can explore miniatures of temples, palaces, and monuments from every corner of the country at your own pace. Many visitors hire bicycles or electric carts to cover more ground, but strolling lets you linger on the intricate details and take plenty of photos. It’s a convenient day trip from Bangkok for anyone interested in Thai history and architecture without travelling too far.